Some legacies are measured in what we leave behind. Others are measured in the opportunities we create for generations we may never meet.

For Sheri Axtell, supporting the WonderTrek initiative is deeply personal. While her daughter, Vanessa, works for the organization and introduced her to its mission, the roots of this gift stretch back much further, to the values her parents, Bob and Sandy Chase, instilled in their family over a lifetime.

The Chase family has long-standing ties to the Brainerd Lakes Area, where summers on Perch Lake became the backdrop for some of their most meaningful memories. Sheri remembers her parents making a conscious choice to prioritize time outdoors. Long before screens competed for attention, Bob and Sandy encouraged their children and grandchildren to explore, ask questions, and experience adventure. 

Those experiences weren’t just family traditions, they became part of the family’s identity.

Today, Sheri sees WonderTrek’s mission as an extension of those same values. It’s an organization that creates opportunities for curiosity, exploration, and adventure, all qualities her parents believed every child should have the chance to experience.

“My parents’ legacy has always been about creating adventure,” Sheri shared. “This is a way for that legacy to continue.”

This legacy of giving started more than 30 years ago, when Sheri received a gift from her grandfather: $2,500.

Her grandfather was also someone who believed in adventure and understood the value of investing in the future. Rather than spending the money, Sheri chose to invest it. Over the decades, that investment quietly grew alongside her family, becoming a reminder that even a modest gift can have a lasting impact.

Today, that same investment has become the foundation for a legacy gift to WonderTrek.

Rather than making a one-time contribution, Sheri established a recurring gift through a Fidelity investment account. The contributions will be distributed over five years, allowing the investment to continue growing while providing ongoing support for WonderTrek. The process took about 30 minutes to set up, and because the gifts come directly from the investment account to a non-profit, they also offer tax advantages.

It’s a full-circle story of generosity.

For Sheri, this isn’t simply about making a donation to an organization she believes in. It’s about honoring the people who shaped her life and ensuring their values continue to have an impact long into the future.

She hopes others will consider what kind of legacy they want to leave, not because anyone should feel obligated to give, but because thoughtful planning can become an extension of the values that matter most.

In the end, Bob and Sandy Chase’s legacy isn’t defined by dollars. It’s reflected in every child who discovers something new, every family encouraged to explore together, and every opportunity created through a gift that keeps giving, just as they always hoped it would.